Portsmouth, VA vs Hampton, VA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Hampton, VA has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% higher than Portsmouth, VA.

Portsmouth, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,610 / month
Hampton, VA · modeled 2BR rent: $1,580 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Portsmouth, VA and Hampton, VA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Portsmouth, VA

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $388/month in Hampton, VA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $154,659 in Hampton, VA

Regional cost estimates: Portsmouth, VA uses Norfolk, VA. Hampton, VA uses Norfolk, VA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 2.0%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$388

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$4.7K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Portsmouth, VA

Population:97K

Cost Index:

98.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$243K

Hampton, VA

Population:137K

Cost Index:

100.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$278K

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Portsmouth, VA

The Old Dominion State

97K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 97K residents.

Hampton, VA

The Old Dominion State

137K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Virginia, this city has a population of 137K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Portsmouth, VA vs Hampton, VA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Portsmouth, VA	Hampton, VA	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,301/mo	$2,608/mo	↑ $307more	13.3%
Other	$1,714/mo	$1,749/mo	↑ $34.16more	2.0%
Transportation	$1,289/mo	$1,315/mo	↑ $25.69more	2.0%
Groceries	$973/mo	$982/mo	↑ $9.64more	1.0%
Healthcare	$641/mo	$647/mo	↑ $6.35more	1.0%
All Utilities	$582/mo	$588/mo	↑ $5.77more	1.0%

Housing

↑ 13.3%

Portsmouth, VA

$2,301

Hampton, VA

$2,608

Difference

$307

Other

↑ 2.0%

Portsmouth, VA

$1,714

Hampton, VA

$1,749

Difference

$34.16

Transportation

↑ 2.0%

Portsmouth, VA

$1,289

Hampton, VA

$1,315

Difference

$25.69

Groceries

↑ 1.0%

Portsmouth, VA

$973

Hampton, VA

$982

Difference

$9.64

Healthcare

↑ 1.0%

Portsmouth, VA

$641

Hampton, VA

$647

Difference

$6.35

All Utilities

↑ 1.0%

Portsmouth, VA

$582

Hampton, VA

$588

Difference

$5.77

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,405

To$1,380

↓ $25.00

1 Bed

From$1,420

To$1,390

↓ $30.00

2 Bed

From$1,610

To$1,580

↓ $30.00

3 Bed

From$2,230

To$2,190

↓ $40.00

Portsmouth, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,240–$1,490/mo

Hampton, VAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$2,030/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Portsmouth, VA

$7,888

Monthly in Hampton, VA

$388

Difference

Home Values

Portsmouth

Hampton

$243K

Median Value

$278K

↓ -0.9%

YoY Change

↓ -0.8%

↑ +38.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +38.1%

$220K - $308K

Price Range

$229K - $300K

Homes in Hampton are 15% more expensive than Portsmouth

Calculate payment - Portsmouth Calculate payment - Hampton

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

→ $0

Same taxes

Monthly Difference

Same take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.0%

Rate difference

Portsmouth, VA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Virginia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,718/month

$104.6K

Hampton, VA

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Virginia State Tax

Effective: 5.6%

$8.4K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 30.3%

$45.4K

Take-Home Pay

$8,718/month

$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Portsmouth, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

Hampton, VA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.7%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Portsmouth

Hampton

32 Good

Air Quality

32 Good

85.8%

Good Air Days

85.8%

81 Moderate

Climate Risk

81 Moderate

🌅

Top Hazards

🌅

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

21 days

Heat Days >95°F

21 days

▲+2.6°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.6°F

21 days

Heat Days >95°F

21 days

Before moving from Portsmouth, VA to Hampton, VA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Hampton, VA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Portsmouth, VA. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Portsmouth to Hampton moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Hampton, VA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Portsmouth, VA vs Hampton, VA

How do the cost estimates for Portsmouth, VA and Hampton, VA compare?

Hampton, VA has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% higher than Portsmouth, VA. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Portsmouth, VA, the model estimates $154,659 in Hampton, VA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Portsmouth, VA and Hampton, VA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,610/month in Portsmouth, VA and $1,580/month in Hampton, VA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.